Erectile Dysfunction

An erection happens when blood flows into the penis through relaxed blood vessels and is then trapped to maintain firmness. Once arousal ends, the vessels open again, and the blood flows out.

Erectile dysfunction can be caused by a range of factors, which are generally grouped into two main categories: physical and psychological.

1. Narrowed Blood Vessels

Conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, and diabetes can reduce blood flow and lead to ED. In some cases, ED may be an early sign of these conditions. If you're over 40, it's worth speaking to your doctor for a full health check and blood tests.

2. Lifestyle Factors

Poor diet, lack of exercise, smoking, and heavy alcohol use all increase the risk of ED. Making healthy changes may improve or even resolve symptoms.

3. Age

As men get older, the risk of ED increases due to age-related changes like reduced testosterone and higher chances of conditions such as high blood pressure or cholesterol.

4. Medications

Some medicines—such as those for depression, high blood pressure, or hair loss—can affect blood flow or libido, causing ED. Always speak to your doctor before stopping any prescribed treatment.

5. Psychological Causes

Mental health plays a key role.

• Depression and anxiety are common contributors to ED. If you think you may be struggling, speak to your doctor.
• Stress, whether short or long-term, can also impact your ability to maintain an erection. In many cases, symptoms improve once the underlying issue is addressed. Counselling or treatment may help.

Injectable and Inserted Drugs for ED

Caverject (Alprostadil) is a drug made by the same company that came up with the original ED treatment, Viagra. Caverject is an injection into the penis. For obvious reasons, this is not the most popular option due to peoples general discomfort around injections, however, it is proven to work significantly faster than the tablet options, only taking around 5-15 minutes to work.

Penis Vacuum Pump Devices

Another alternative to using medication are penis pumps. These can be a little intimidating to use, however they do produce results. For men who are unable to get an erection, a penis pump can be an incredibly effective solution. 

They work by creating a vacuum around the penis. This vacuum effect then encourages blood flow into the penis and results in an erection. 

Once erect, a ring can be used at the base of the penis to help maintain the erection. Satisfaction with the results vary. Studies show between 50-80% of men are happy with the outcome of using this type of device.

Penile Implants

A penile implant is a device that is surgically placed into the genitals that can be semi-rigid or adjustable for hardening. These devices are quite invasive and are only used in patients who cannot use other treatments, leaving them as the only option for treating erectile dysfunction.

Lifestyle Changes to Improve Erectile Dysfunction

Diet

Addressing eating habits can also impact your impotence issues. Obese men are approximately 2.5 times more likely to suffer from ED than men who have a normal BMI. Not only will losing weight potentially help your ED, but also reduce your risks of cardiovascular disease.

Alcohol

Reducing alcohol and illicit drug intake may positively affect your ability to achieve an erection. Both can interrupt arousal signals from the brain to the body resulting in ED. Talk to your doctor for more ways to decrease consumption of these substances if you believe they may be affecting your sexual health.

Smoking

Smoking can result in damage to your blood vessels. The resulting poor blood supply to the penis can cause erectile dysfunction. Stopping smoking improves vascular health which often results in improved sexual performance.

Pelvic floor exercises

Pelvic floor exercises, also known as Kegels, result in the strengthening of the muscles around the penis. Strengthening muscles around the penis can improve blood flow which improves erectile function.

Stress

Stress has been shown to also impact a man’s ability to achieve an erection. This can be both general stress levels, and anxiety specifically associated with sexual performance. Addressing your stress levels directly, or with the help of a psychologist, can be massively impactful for both ED and your overall health.